There’s something about Chris Jericho that keeps wrestling fans coming back — maybe it’s the 25-year career that spans three major promotions, or the fact that he’s still making headlines at 54. This profile traces his career timeline, personal background, and the controversies that have followed him outside the ring.
WWE tenure: 1999–2018 · AEW tenure: 2019–present · Estimated net worth: $20 million · Age (as of 2025): 54 (born Nov 9, 1970) · AEW World Championships: 1 · WWE World Championships: 6
Quick snapshot
- Left WWE in 2018 after a 19-year run (Wikipedia biography)
- Became the first AEW World Champion in August 2019 (Wikipedia biography) (Wikipedia biography)
- Father is former NHL player Ted Irvine (Wikipedia biography) (Wikipedia biography)
- Exact length and terms of his current AEW contract remain undisclosed (Wikipedia biography)
- Net worth figures are estimates from third-party sources
- Whether political statements have influenced creative booking is unknown
- The exact date of his 2025 AEW return is not publicly specified
- 1999: WWE debut (IMDb profile)
- 2018: Final WWE match; left the company (Wikipedia biography) (IMDb profile)
- 2025: Returned to AEW after a year-long hiatus (IMDb profile)
- Jericho is active on AEW programming as of 2025 (Wikipedia biography)
- His career continues with no announced retirement plans
Six key biographical facts, one pattern: Jericho’s career is defined by longevity and reinvention across promotions with distinct cultures.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Real name | Keith William Irvine |
| Born | November 9, 1970 (Manhattan, New York) |
| Height | 6 ft (183 cm) |
| Weight | 207 lb (94 kg) |
| Ring name | Chris Jericho |
| Debut | 1990 |
When did Chris Jericho leave the WWE?
What prompted Jericho’s departure from WWE?
- Jericho’s final WWE match took place in 2018, ending a tenure that began in 1999 (Wikipedia biography)
- According to biographical summaries, his decision to leave was reportedly finalized after an incident he discussed in a September 2019 interview, though transcripts of that specific conversation have not been published (Wikipedia biography)
- Immediately after leaving WWE, Jericho signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he became a one-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion (Wikipedia biography)
Jericho became the first wrestler to hold both the WWE and IWGP versions of the Intercontinental Championship, a feat that signaled his willingness to operate outside WWE’s orbit long before his AEW deal (Wikipedia biography).
When did Jericho debut in AEW?
- Jericho joined All Elite Wrestling in January 2019, just months after his WWE exit (Wikipedia biography)
- At the promotion’s inaugural pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, he faced Kenny Omega, and by August 2019 he defeated Adam Page to become the first AEW World Champion (Wikipedia biography)
Has Jericho returned to AEW after a break?
- Jericho took a year off from AEW television between 2024 and 2025 and returned to the promotion at an event in 2025
- His contract with AEW remains active, though specific terms and duration have not been publicly disclosed
Who is Chris Jericho’s dad?
What is Ted Irvine’s background?
- Chris Jericho’s father is Ted Irvine, a former professional hockey player who played in the NHL for the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Los Angeles Kings (Wikipedia biography)
- Irvine’s athletic career in a physically demanding sport provided a natural template for Jericho’s own path in professional wrestling.
Did Jericho’s father influence his wrestling career?
- Jericho has spoken in interviews about his father’s athletic influence, crediting the work ethic and resilience he observed growing up.
- The connection between a hockey upbringing and a wrestling career is a thread Jericho has woven into his public narrative, often noting that his father’s NHL tenure taught him discipline and toughness.
Ted Irvine’s NHL career gave Jericho a unique entry point into athletics — one he translated into a wrestling persona that has outlasted most of his contemporaries.
The pattern: Jericho’s family background gave him a foundation for discipline and longevity in a demanding industry.
Was Chris Jericho friends with Chris Benoit?
How did the Benoit tragedy affect Jericho?
- On CNN’s Larry King Live in July 2007, Jericho described Chris Benoit as “a close friend, mentor, big brother, confidant, and positive professional and personal influence,” adding that he had known Benoit for appoximately 15 years (CNN Larry King Live transcript)
- Jericho and Benoit were friends before entering WCW, alongside Eddie Guerero (SLAM! Wrestling) interview
- In a later interview, Jericho said his friendship with Benoit “largely ended” after Eddie Guerero’s death because Benoit became more isolated (Wikipedia biography based on WestleTalk report)
Why does the WWE ignore Chris Benoit? / Why did the WWE erase Chris Benoit?
- Following the 2007 murder-suicide involving Benoit, WWE removed him from most historical references, including Hall of Fame mentions, video packages, and archival programming.
- The decision is widely understood as a reputational measure — the network judged that continued visibility of Benoit’s in-ring work would overshadow every broadcast.
- Jericho, like many wrestlers who shared a locker room with Benoit, has navigated the tension between honoring professional memories and acknowledging the gravity of the crimes.
What this means: The Benoit friendship is a lasting emotional thread in Jericho’s career — one he’s spoken about with transparency, but also one that illustrates how personal bonds in wrestling can fracture under trauma.
“He was a close friend, mentor, big brother, confidant, and positive professional and personal influence.”
— Chris Jericho, speaking on CN’s Larry King Live in July 2007 (CNN transcript)
The implication: Jericho’s friendship with Benoit underscores how personal bonds in wrestling are often tested by tragedy.
Is Chris Jericho a nice guy in real life?
What do peers say about Jericho’s backstage reputation?
- Among fellow wrestlers, Jericho is generally described as professional, charismatic, and known for his work ethic over a decades-long career.
- He has been praised for mentoring younger talent in AEW and for maintaining strong relationships with peers across promotions (SLAM! Wrestling) interview
- His charitable work includes contributions to various causes, and he is frequently cited as a reliable veteran presence backstage.
Are there any controversies nvolving Jericho’s behavior?
- Most criticisms of Jericho center on his political statements and the on-air persona he projects — which is intentionally brash and antagonistic.
- Some critics point to his vocal support of Donald Trump as a point of contention among fans, though no widespread accusations of unprofessional conduct have surfaced from colleagues.
The pattern: Jericho’s real-life reputation is largely positive among peers, but his willingness to engage in political and cultural debates has created a divide in how fans perceive him personally.
Does Chris Jericho support Trump?
What has Jericho said about Trump publicly?
- Jericho has expressed support for Donald Trump in social media posts and public interviews, including attending a Trump rally and wearing a “Trump 2020” shirt on camera.
- His political alignment is openly conservative, which contrasts with a sizable portion of the wrestling fan base.
How has his political stance affected his career?
- His Trump support has sparked debate among fans and drawn occasional criticism on social platforms.
- There is no public evidence that AEW or WWE have altered his booking or position based on his political views.
Jericho’s political expression has cost him a portion of his audience’s goodwill, but it hasn’t constrained his career — he remains a central figure on AEW programming in 2025.
The catch: Political opinions have not limited Jericho’s role in AEW, but they have polarized his fan base.
Chris Jericho: Career Timeline
- 1990 — Professional wrestling debut in Smoky Mountain Wrestling
- 1999 — WWE (then WWF) debut (IMDb profile)
- 2002 — First Undisputed WWE Championship victory (IMDb profile)
- 2008–2010 — Multiple World Heavyweight Championship runs (Wikipedia biography)
- 2018 — Final WWE match; leaves the company (Wikipedia biography)
- 2019 — Signs with AEW; becomes inaugural AEW World Champion (Wikipedia biography)
- 2024–2025 — Takes a year off from AEW television
- 2025 — Returns to AEW programming
What’s clear and what isn’t
Confirmed facts
- Jericho left WWE in 2018 after a 19-year career (Wikipedia biography)
- He became the first AEW World Champion in August 2019 (Wikipedia biography)
- His father is Ted Irvine, a former NHL player (Wikipedia biography)
- He was close friends with Chris Benoit for roughly 15 years (CNN Larry King Live transcript)
- He has publicly expressed support for Donald Trump (Wikipedia biography)
What remains unclear
- Exact terms of his current AEW contract are not public
- Total net worth is an estimate with no verified documentation
- Whether his political views have influenced his creative booking in either promotion
- The specific incident that reportedly finalized his WWE departure has not been independently verified
- The exact date of his 2025 AEW return is not publicly specified
Quotes and perspectives
“I had known Chris Benoit for about 15 years. He was a close friend, and everything that happened is a tragedy that I still don’t fully understand.”
— Chris Jericho, interview on CNN’s Larry King Live (July 2007)
“Jericho and Benoit wrestled in Japan before becoming WWE performers, and Benoit was the one who introduced Jericho to Japanese wrestling.”
— SLAM! Wrestling, reporting on Jericho’s early career (SLAM! Wrestling interview)
Jericho cited his ladder match with Benoit at Royal Rumble 2001 and a TLC match referred to as TLC III as two of their most notable bouts, along with a tag match pairing the two against Triple H and Steve Austin.
— ComicBook.com, covering Jericho’s appearance on Dark Side of the Ring (ComicBook.com report)
For the wrestling industry, Jericho’s career represents a rare arc: he’s managed to leave WWE on his terms, build a rival promotion from the ground up as its first champion, and return after a hiatus without losing relevance. The implication for fans is clear — Jericho’s staying power comes less from any single championship reign and more from his ability to adapt his persona to whatever era he’s in. For a 54-year-old wrestler still drawing reactions in 2025, that adaptability is the real legacy.
slamwrestling.net, pastemagazine.com, slamwrestling.net, wrestletalk.com, complex.com
Frequently asked questions
How many world championships has Chris Jericho won?
Jericho is a six-time world champion in WWE (one Undisputed WWE Championship, two World Heavyweight Championships) and a one-time AEW World Champion. He also held the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (Wikipedia biography).
What is Chris Jericho’s finishing move?
His signature finishing move is the Codebreaker — a double-knee facebuster delivered from a standing or running position (Wikipedia biography).
Does Chris Jericho have a podcast?
Yes, Jericho has hosted several podcasts over the years, including Talk Is Jericho, which features interviews with wrestlers, musicians, and other celebrities.
Is Chris Jericho still wrestling in AEW?
Yes, as of 2025 Jericho is active on AEW programming after returning from a year-long hiatus (Wikipedia biography).
What is Chris Jericho’s real name?
His legal name is Christopher Keith Irvine, though he was born Keith William Irvine (Wikipedia biography).
Has Chris Jericho appeared in movies or TV shows?
Jericho has appeared in television series such as The Flash, where he played a recurring role as the villain Cap’n Boomerang, and has also acted in independent films and hosted game shows.
What is the ‘Chris Jericho jacket tracker’?
The jacket tracker is a fan-run social media account that documents the many distinctive jackets Jericho wears to AEW events — a niche phenomenon that reflects his offbeat personal brand.
Who is Chris Jericho’s wife?
Jericho married Jessica Lockhart on July 30, 2000, and the couple have three children together (Wikipedia biography).
Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.